mauibabes

Let me share a few thoughts. We have sailed on Vista twice, actually just got off on 11/1. On the first cruise we were forward on Deck 11, we had no issues related to noise. As for TV noise, we have heard it on any of the ships. I do not believe it is an issue specifically of the ship but more related to the guests in the staterooms. We were traveling recently with a number of friends and most used hearing aids and often had to be reminded to turn down the volume by their non hearing aide wearing partner. One HA wearer included a suggestion in their survey for Oceania to include Close Captioning on all TV’s in an effort to get guests to reduce the volume. An EXCELLENT suggestion. I believe there can be noise issues in any room category and it makes no different how much you paid for the room. Some of the worst rooms for noise we ever had were PH-1’s. Even an Oceania Suite can be noisy. IMHO it is Location, Location, Location. Next I would say it goes back to the noise sensitivity of the guest. My DW absolutely lost it in 11065 on Riviera about 2 years ago due to the noise from the TC and Waves beginning about 3:00 a.m. Limited sleep for two nights sent her over the edge. Yes we complained and yes we were able to be moved to a different PH, far from the offending Aft location. Bottom line, we all process noise levels differently so definitely pay attention to your Location when you book and discuss your needs and issues with your TA or O Rep or even other experienced Oceania cruisers. You can really have a bad cruise experience with a noisy room. Good luck and pay attention to what is around you. Mauibabes

I understand there is a singing and dancing late happy hour 10:15-11:00. Not good for someone who goes to bed earlier. Since Horizon has been realigned moving the Band and dancing area to the Right side of the Deck, IMHO, only the Port side would work for me.it will be interesting to hear comments from any of the Oceania Suite and Vista Suite guests to get their take on their experiences. Mauibabes

It will take awhile, not scheduled back on O until October 29, 2025 on Allura. I am sure his wife will give him some encouragement to sail sooner; you know, happy wife, happy life. Mauibabes

I am sure it is an individual decision. We travel with friends, Silver level and we call him Lobsterman. He eats lobster somewhere on the ship daily. His favorite is the Jacques Lobster. now me, I don’t even like the Lobster Bisque which I tried last week but that is just me and lobster. enjoy what you like. Mauibabes

Some under Horizon 10007 and 12009 are reportedly very noisy. Met some people on Miami- LA trip that were incensed. Staff tried to make improvements but it will not be resolved without a future trip to the Dry Dock. If you want an O suite, I would opt for the Port side 🤞🙏 I have booked Port side under the O Suites in PH’s for an Allura sailing. Hopefully no vibration, music or dance noise will reverberate down to Deck 11. Mauibabes

@Mkdvmz Glad to hear you had a successful fist day experience on Riviera. We are 4 days into our Vista cruise and it is going GREAT. You mentioned an almost inedible Veal Marsala. As someone who absolutely loves Toscana, you must seek out and tell the Maitre d and let him know because believe me they want to know. A quiet conversation and ask him if there might be another opportunity to dine in Toscana before you make any decisions about their Specialty dining. It’s back to Toscana for us tomorrow and we expect our meals to be wonderful. DW says the Lasagne is absolutely #1 and like all the pasta dishes, they can be ordered appetizer portions and if they have a Chef’s special pasta, try a taster, they are usually excellent. Have a great cruise and if there are issues, be sure to tell them. Mauibabes

@Sthrngary Fantastic,less than 30 days to go and I have loved your process and all your shared information and wisdom. Reams of paper and a 30 minute you tube video, OMG. With the stuff hitting the fan in Israel, now is the time to pay close attention to other events in other close bye countries. We have had Istanbul cruises cancelled or modified 3 times over the years and NOT made a successful stop there. The President of Turkey has come out on the side of the Palestinian’s so there is always the possibility your itinerary could get a last second modification. Whatever cards are dealt, have a FANTASTIC first Oceania cruise.😇👍🙏🤞🛳️ Mauibabes

@FLConnie currently it is Noel Suarez and DW has taken classes on a couple of trips with him. We board Monday, Miami to LA so we will know for sure then. In May we had a different pair of artists and DW enjoyed her (non-brush) painting projects. the excitement builds 🙏😇 Mauibabes

If you are referring to the Vista sailing on November 3 and you are arriving at the zoo called LAX at 3:00 on a Friday afternoon you better say 🙏. It is about 20 miles to San Pedro Harbor but you could easily be arriving about 5:00 or. I do not know how late the locals will process people for Embarkation. Maybe it would be good to contact Oceania and get an official answer rather than supposition or opinions expressed on CC. Enjoy your cruise. Mauibabes

She did get her complete refurb like all the others except Marina. She gets hers in May and I think returns to sailing May 18. Vista is brand new and Allura is under construction. That is the whole fleet for O. I am sure you can look on you tube and see what any of the R Class ships look like as there are many videos available and they are all the same, minus Sirena which has a Red Ginger restaurant. Mauibabes

In May on Vista they opened restaurants at 6:00 but now hearing on Vista it is back to 6:30. Shows have been bumped to 9:15 on Vista as well. No news about other ships current time changes for dining or shows. Enjoy, Mauibabes

@Mkdvmz Guest gave you great advice. Here is a bit more. Toscana, DW says try an appetizer size Lasagna and anything else that looks great. Any Italian Chef special any night will be fantastic Breads and the Olive Oil and Balsamic cart will add 5 pounds, amazing. Love the Sole too. Polo, DW loves the Filet Mignon, Med. Rare. Always try the Jumbo Shrinp Cocktail and DW loves the Waldorf Salad. Red Ginger, you have to go for the Watermelon Duck Salad, the Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass and if anyone at your table likes Rack of Lamb, the Crusted “Lolly Pops” cooked Medium are outstanding and you can cut them up into tasters for everyone at the table. Actually the best lamb on the ship according to a veteran Restaurant Manager but the lamb in Polo, GDR or Terrace Cafe, even for breakfast, are pretty great. Jacques, many great entrees but if you can get another person to join you, you must try the Sea Bass for two, also the Sole as well and Escargot, and the Pumpkin Soup is amazing, etc. Any restaurant offering a Quartet or Quintet for desert, try it for a wonderful taster. GDR, delicious specials and standards every night but DW loves Jacques Roasted Chicken and it’s her favorite. Terrace Cafe, always excellent meals just more casual, create whatever you would like and the sweets are delicious; breakfast, lunch and dinner. Definitely try the Humphrey Slocumb ice cream as it is a new flavor daily. Oh yes, Baristas is the #1 place for coffee and sweets, outstanding. We will call these starters to give you things to consider come 10/20. Enjoy Riviera and we will expect to hear some comments from you after you have made the 4 Specially dining rounds. Mauibabes

When we were on Vista in May we sat outside the Toscana semi private dining room where they do special wine pairings and I know that room would be large enough for you. See if you can book an evening there? I know it is not cheap however but then I don’t think they handed Frank Del Rio a bill. 🤪 Enjoy, Mauibabes

@ak1004 Thank you for your comments. Sometimes my wife tells me I go a bit overboard with my commentaries. Sometimes when responding to a potential new O cruiser, I get a bit carried away because as you said, there is no real comparison with any line unless you are able to step up 💰 and pay for Regent, SS, SB, Crystal and then 💰💰for the Suite life or the lines with their ship w/I a ship privacy. Oceania’s Specialty restaurants are outstanding, especially since they are included. Oceania will rue the day IF THEY EVER try to start charging for the Specialties. Talk about an uprising and ticking loyalists off 🤬🤬🤬🤬👎. Anyway, Vista here we come and we are READY. Mauibabes

@DrKoob When you see the Maitre d again, tell him of your experience and ask him if there is a way to have another fabulous dinner with him? Sometimes each evening we have “stopped bye” early and late to see if there was some availability. 🤪👍🙏. I realize your ship is full but my guess is you will be successful. Now you can understand why my DW has shared her need for a PH when we sail. Again, Happy Wife, Happy Life. Bye the way, we have found the Baristas are usually from Toscana. Make a good friend there and ask how you can get another dinner reservation. Really appreciate your writings and we heard you lost Martha’s Vineyard today. Bummer, nice stop. Have a great rest of your trip. Mauibabes

@Pandazoo Oh yes, that Value reference is from all the reading of the many Oceania Brochures I receive in the mail. Mauibabes

Definitely not a paid Ambassador. To my knowledge from from friends who are TA owners, I had not heard O was using them but possibly did in the past. We have just truly enjoyed Oceania and my personality is such that when I find something that I really like, I share it with our friends. CC is like a band of friends so I sing some praises but will never not tell the truth of our experiences. Like multiple days of overflowing toilets 🤬 or a noisy room that brings DW to tears. 🤬🤬 Thanks for asking though because it means my positive approach to life is coming through and not my occasional sarcastic comment. Mauibabes

@atwinhusen You did not mention a timeframe you were considering but just know in July and August it will be HOT. We made this same trip on Riviera on her post Covid first sailing but that was in mid October. We actually find the post summer/fall sailing better, less chance of there being any children aboard 😇🙏. Actually when there have been kids on board they are well behaved and not roaming hoards. All of this really means nothing because your question was about cruising on Oceania. As I said previously, it is pretty much “Try it, you’ll like it”. From the ships to the cuisine, to the experience to the Staff and Guests, it is MHO you will have a wonderful time. We are preparing to sail next week on Vista with a group of friends, some on their First O cruise to one couple on their 41st. You are experienced cruisers so you know what you expect and you will find a very high level of loyal and returning guests, normally 60%+ on board. This board has a large contingent of X expats so any and all questions are fare game. There are many knowledgeable Oceania posters on the board so ask away. O is not perfect and everyone has their own opinions but O prides itself in the Value you get from one of their cruise experiences and they go out of their way to bring you back, again and again. Enjoy, Mauibabes

Forget the “pans”, go and enjoy Riviera. You will have a fantastic time and Happy 30th. Can not compare to Cunard and Disney but the refugees from Celebrity are MANY so you will have no trouble getting their experiences and opinions of the two lines from this Board. One Celebrity cruise years ago, even in Aqua Class, was not close to what we experience on Oceania. Like a mass exodus of late and once you sail on Oceania, you will understand why. You do not have to pay huge sums to eat special meals, everyone on O eats the same food, whichever restaurant you are dining in. Every cruise line has changed since Covid so base all comparisons to the Post Covid era. We found O 16 years ago by accident and pretty much have never left. Yes, some friends drug us off to sail with them over the years but when it is “our” choice, it’s Oceania as we have found “OUR” niche and now they have all gravitated to our niche. Enjoy, Mauibabes

We have done 35 days on Insignia in a Veranda room, not a problem. Yes it was like showering in a sardine can with a shower curtain sticking to you. That experience told us if on an R ship, it was Penthouse level. We have not been on an R since they were all remodeled so can not tell you if my opinion has changed. Booked on Nautica in May but in a PH so will sneak a peak in a Veranda room. On an O or A Class ship, I am afraid I created a “monster” because DW has “become accustomed” to having 50% more square feet and visits with her Butler 😇👍 so I am stuck. Happy wife, happy life. Enjoy, Mauibabes

Add the Amazon River up and back to Manaus, multiple pilots boarded for the 7 days as I recall. I can agree about the food and restaurant selection. Sometimes when I have tried something new, I realize I made a great choice or, less than great. I also understand there are good nights with service because we really connected with the waiter from the start and it made the evening even better. Over the years on Marina and Riviera and now Vista, we have found our favorite dishes and don’t deviate a lot. Red Ginger, it has to be Watermelon Duck Salad, Miso Glazed Sea Bass or their outstanding Rack of Lamb. Toscana, it is always Grandma’s Lasagne, whether appetizer or entree sized portion or some other Chef special. Love the Sole in Toscana and Polo. In Jacques, the Sea Bass for 2 is amazing! Polo, DW must have her Filet Mignon and Waldorf Salad and I add the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail which is the best on board. GDR, DW only orders Jacques Chicken, her way of cutting back on the rich meals from other restaurants. In 15 years I do not ever recall a bad meal or the feeling I would not go back to that restaurant like I would at home. I guess being a confined traveler keeps us coming back but changing up on our dining selections. I guess we are not adventuresome eaters by O guest standards so no wine pairing gourmet dinners. Bottom line, O takes good care of us and it is no chore to come back for another great trip. Next up, Vista on the 16th with our wonderful Oceania family and friends. It just does not get better than that, JMHO. Mauibabes

Shepherd is right ma’am, spend your time fighting a battle you can win, not one you can’t because you agreed to it in your booking contract. I know you have a number of O bookings made so focus your efforts on more positive activities. Chronic complaining does not always lead to the desired results eventhough we do hear about the squeaky wheels. I find it is alway better to pick your battles because personally, I do not like losing. It does not matter if another line’s ship goes into a port or arrives earlier or later, you are not on that ship and the Oceania ships have different capabilities and operational guidelines. The Oceania Captain, and they are excellent, are charged with the safety of the ship, passengers and crew and they all take that responsibility seriously. They will do what they must to protect you. It is a bummer when an arrival is adjusted, it often impacts tours, both ship and private, but I prefer safe than sorry. JMHO, Mauibabes

If you don’t want to pay for a A-2,check out available lesser priced rooms and have your TA or O reassign you. Mauibabes

Very good size, almost like a golf umbrella. They are In every stateroom and when you forget to grab it, there is a can with umbrellas in it near the gangway heading off the ship. We carry small (9”) umbrellas in a backpack when it looks sketchy on a day tour just for insurance but not wanting to be hauling around a big umbrella. You know if you have an umbrella on your person, there is a good chance it will not rain. 😇👍🤪 Enjoy your cruise, Mauibabes

@Vineyard View Yes it is a more of the vibe of the restaurant, you will see that when you sail on your upcoming trip. Besides, the view of water from Deck 5 is hardly worth opening the drapes. You see it from the GDR but it is thru the sheers and drapes. If you really see waves, it means the seas are rough and some may be uncomfortable seeing waves at the window level. Mauibabes